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CHICAGO — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday it was on track to meet its November sales forecast of 3 percent to 5 percent growth at U.S. stores open at least a year, as cooler weather in parts of the United States drove demand for fall clothing.

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“Sales for the November period have tracked the weather patterns with more seasonally correct temperatures driving sales, especially in the apparel areas,” Wal-Mart said on a recorded message updating sales through Nov. 14.

Last week’s temperatures were colder than a year earlier across much of the U.S. West and East, according to weather trackers Planalytics.

“Cold air across the East was enhanced by 40 to 60 mile-per-hour winds and lake-effect snows late in the week,” Planalytics said. “The storm increased demand for cold-weather apparel as well as outdoor tools in the Northeast.”

Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, which last week spooked investors with a less-than-enthusiastic assessment of consumer spending, said that both the number of shoppers and the average amount spent per customer increased last week.

Wal-Mart said the best-selling categories included pharmaceuticals, household paper and food.

The four-week November sales period ends on Nov. 28, which is the day after Thanksgiving and usually one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Last year, Wal-Mart hit a record $1.43 billion in U.S. sales on the day after Thanksgiving.

Shares of Wal-Mart dipped 25 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $54.75 in early New York Stock Exchange trading, in line with weakness in the broader market.